2018 NATIONALS ENTRY FORM

All those still considering entering please note the entry close date of the 10th August as per the NOR. Anyone turning up on Thursday 16th August expecting to enter is very likely going to be refused entry.

Any potential competitor needs to complete the online entry form only. Once this is complete the club can contact them directly via email to firm up plans.

2018 NATIONALS CLOTHING

At vast expense we've hired a top model to show off this year's Osprey Nationals clothing. Big choice of products, from T Shirts to polos to hoodies, vest tops, etc etc. All supplied by Azure Logo Embroidery. If you order before 9th August, your clothing should be made up and delivered straight to you at the Osprey Nationals, ready to wear. Products can be made up with your sail number and boat name, as well as the Osprey Sailing, and Osprey Nationals 2018 branding. Big choice of colours as well as of clothing products. Look out for our special artwork on the back.

Next Class Events

The 2018 UK National Championship takes place from Thursday 16th to Sunday 19th August hosted by Weymouth Sailing Club. There were 39 entries before the early entry deadline of 23:59 BST on Saturday 30th June. How many more to enter?

Scottish & Northerns - Keilder

A 40-mile clockwise circumnavigation of the Isle Of Sheppey
in north Kent organised by IOS Sailing Club.
The UK's longest annual dinghy, cat & board race!
Open to all classes of dinghy, catamaran & sailboard.
Sea, river & estuary sailing with tidal conditions. More information by clicking image or title.

The Round the Island Race is scheduled for 15th or 16th September 2018. The NoR, Entry Form and Equipment Checklist are all now available. Entries are limited to twenty boats, this is the most that we consider we have the facilities to deal with. More information by clicking image or title.

All reports by Alan Henderson for the Osprey Class Association All photos that have appeared are courtesy and copyright Fotoboat

BURGE & TOWNEND SEIZE OSPREY NATIONALS IN FINAL RACE

On the final day of the Osprey Nationals at Porthpean, Cornwall, it was another day of bright basking sunshine, and a wait for the wind. This time though the initial wind was onshore, so it settled and eventually rose to 6 kts to allow racing, with a trapezoid/ sausage course getting its first airing of the event.

The leaderboard was tight at the top, and the two favourites were leaders D J Edwards and James Coxon, and second placed Matt Burge and Vyv Townend. However the expected gunfight didn’t happen, with the two boats choosing different paths up the first beat. Edwards opted for offshore in the Southerly breeze, while Burge chose to head for the Western shore. That turned out to be the right choice, and Edwards was unable to pull back the places, finishing 12th, while Burge & Townend took the race win, and the overall lead. After the first race, the wind faded, so no further racing was possible, and Burge and Townend’s lead translated into a Championship win, eighteen years after Townend had last raced on Osprey.

After eight races over four days, both the Championship and many of the places below were radically affected by the final race, such is the close nature of racing in the 40 strong Osprey fleet. Four wins spread over the event laid the base for Burge/ Townend’s win, while second place Edwards/ Coxon and third placed Chris Gould/ Nick Broomhall also scored very well, both counting a mix of wins, second and third places.

It was a Championship well hosted and run by the little but very welcoming Porthpean club, who sail from a lovely beach surrounded by cliffs. There was racing on all four days despite tricky wind conditions, and up to three races per day, with a variety of course shapes to give all a chance.

The Osprey class showed its family friendly nature, with many family teams, and the biggest number of lady competitors, thirteen, for many years, and occupying both helm and crew positions. There were a number of young helms and crews, with Alexandra Willis taking best under 21 helm and best lady helm, and Harry Odling best under 21 crew. Top lady crew was Lisa Chess, sailing with husband Oscar, while both Alexandra and Harry sailed with their Dads.

Boats included some beautiful all wood examples, while just over half were the modern Mark 4 examples by Hartley Boats. The majority of both FRP and wooden boats used carbon spars. The Osprey fleet left Porthpean in rude health, after a second successive 40 boat Nationals, and looking forward to many national and regional opens until their next major Championship, the End of Seasons at Rutland in November.

Osprey Nationals, Day 3

Day 3, July 21st, of the 39 boat Osprey Nationals at Porthpean brought another long wait before the breeze settled enough to allow two races in late afternoon. The first race was sailed in around 8 kts, with a slight pickup to 10 kts for the second. The second day of offshore breezes again brought challenging beats, tacking to and fro approaching a windward mark under the cliffs.

After a surfeit of sausages the previous day, the fleet cured their indigestion by reverting to triangle sausage courses instead, with just one lap of each. A short running leg to the finish added to the excitement for groups of boats going through in close company.

The lighter breezes gave some new faces a chance to shine at the front. The previous day’s risers, Cooney and Frith had a poor day, and Championship leaders Matt Burge and Vyv Townend could only manage one good result. Staying consistent though were Chris Gould and Nick Broomhall who took a second and a win, while D J Edwards and James Coxon also improved with a win in the first race, and a third place in the second race.

The results put Edwards and Coxon into a three point lead, from Burge/ Townend, and Gould/ Broomhall. Any of the three could take the Championship on the final day.

Osprey Nationals, Day 2 – A Tale of Sausages and Pasties

Day 2, July 20th, of the 39 boat Osprey Nationals at Porthpean brought a long wait before the action started. When the action started it was brisk, with an offshore wind of around 15 knots.

The famous Porthpean pasty boat was not needed, with the sailors who included quite a few famous pie eaters formerly of a ghostly class having to fuel up with the pasties before the late launch. The Osprey is one of the few boats which suit big helms and crews, so offers a good option for larger former singlehander sailors.

With a change of course shape today to sausage triangles, there were plenty of sausages on the menu on the water, then after sailing at the barbie. The more generously proportioned pie eaters and sausage munchers were licking their lips as the wind built as the fleet sailed down to the start area. Racing was always going to be challenging, with the wind coming down from the cliffs and valleys, so very shifty for its 15 kts plus strength.

Three races were sailed after the four hour postponement, and the Race Officer allowed one general recall before reaching for his black flag for all subsequent starts.

The initial sausage legs were tactical within the bunched fleet, but the pie eaters and sausage munchers found the reaches to their taste, with some reaches being quite tight, allowing the bigger crews to exert their full power. Best performers of the day were Martin Cooney, crewed by the ample Peter Frith, who took two wins and a third place. First day leaders Matt Burge and Vyv Townend stayed close to the front, rather than continuing their first day domination. D J Edwards and James Coxon, and Chris Gould/ Nick Broomhall also scored well, as a top four emerged, some way ahead of the rest.

Gould though seemed to be suffering from the sunshine, and between races completed a back flip which Tom Daley would have been proud of, during the desperate avoidance of a collision, while his crew Nick Broomhall heroically prevented a full capsize, while pulling Gould back into the boat with his other hand. However this seemed to cool off their heatstroke, and they took a third and a second in the later races.

Another three races are scheduled at Porthpean on Monday, and more new course shapes may add to the mix. What choice of nourishment will suit the new course shape(s)?

Osprey Nationals, Day 1- Burge & Townend take pair of wins

39 Ospreys started off a perfect day’s sailing at Porthpean SC, Cornwall. Despite apocalyptic weather forecasts of lightning, thunderstorms and floods, what actually arrived was a lovely sunny day, with WSW winds rising through the day.

The first race was sailed in 8-10 kts, on four laps of alternate triangles and sausages. Matt Burge and Vyv Townend took control of the race from the first lap, closely followed by another returning Osprey sailor, the 1996 Champion D J Edwards, crewed by James Coxon. Third on the water, but unfortunately OCS, were Gareth Caldwell and Jon Gibbons. A gear failure in the second race compounded a day to forget for Gareth and Jon.

For the second race, the breeze popped up to 12 knots and the sunshine continued to blaze down to create perfect sailing conditions, on a similar four lap course. Burge and Townend, and Edwards and Coxon continued their battle at the front to take first and second again, followed home by Chris Gould and Nick Brooomhall in third.

Tomorrow has three races scheduled at Porthpean, and some new course shapes may add to the mix.

We are extremely grateful to the following companies who are providing sponsorship:

News from World Sailing

The racing for the 2018 Women's Match Racing World Championship got underway under cloudy skies with a light rain falling most of the day. But the dark skies did not dim the enthusiasm as the sailors and race officials hit the water and completed eight flights before joining in the Opening Ceremonies.

El Médano, Tenerife, continues to prove itself as one of the best and most consistent wave sailing spots in Europe as results were gained in all categories for the 2018 Tenerife PWA World Cup - sponsored by Bruch Boards - which means Tenerife maintains its 100% record since 2011.

The Hempel Sailing World Championships Aarhus 2018 drew to a close on Sunday with the Netherlands on top, France on the rise and Denmark basking in accolades from around the world for setting new standards for hosting the biggest sailing event in the world.